CUMS News

Professor Sir Brian Pippard, President of CUMS, 7 September 1920 - 21 September 2008

Thu 25th September 2008

CUMS is very sorry to report the death of its President, the distinguished physicist and pianist Sir Brian Pippard.

Sir Brian, who died on Sunday at the age of 88, was formerly President of Clare Hall and Cavendish Professor of Physics. He succeeded Lord Broers as President of CUMS in 2003, and since that time he has quietly but generously supported The Society's activities. He took great delight in meeting CUMS members at The Society's annual dinners, and provided particularly invaluable assistance in the organisation of the Cambridge Tsunami Relief Concert in 2005. He will be sorely missed by members of CUMS who offer their condolences to his wife Charlotte and to their three daughters.

Links to Sir Brian's obituaries are provided below: The Guardian [http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/sep/24/physics.peopleinscience] The Daily Telegraph [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/3069588/Professor-Sir-Brian-Pippard.html] University of Cambridge [http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/news/dp/2008092302]

CUMS 2008/9 Auditions now online

Tue 9th September 2008

You can now book your auditions online for 2008/9! Simply visit http://www.cums.org.uk/admin to begin.

Amendment to 'Come and Sing'

Tue 9th September 2008

We apologise for any confusion caused; the CUMS Chorus 'Come and Sing' will take place on 11/10/2008 at 13.15pm in Clare Chapel.

New Website

Tue 26th August 2008

We are proud to announce our new website! We aim to bring you even more information, news and events in our 2008/9 season. If you have any questions or comments, don't hesitate to contact Dan Hill (dnh22@cam.ac.uk).

CUMS Seeks Orchestral Manager for 2008-9

Tue 1st April 2008

The Cambridge University Music Society is seeking potential candidates for the position of orchestral manager for the academic year 2008-9. The appointed candidate would be working primarily with CUMS I, the University's top symphony orchestra, gaining a great deal of professional experience in artistic management.

As ever, the orchestra has an increasingly exciting and challenging programme of music and events in the coming year, and the right candidate would be working at the very front of the music making with the orchestra. The position would include various roles from day to day management, to programme editing and publicity, as well as providing further administrative support to CUMS e.g., in publicity and organising auditions, conductor competitions.

It may be possible to split the job between two candidates - so the time commitment and exact roles are varied and open to negotiation. CUMS is able to offer a stipend for the year, which will equate to approximately £9 per hour.

At this point in time, we would like to hear from potential candidates so that we can jointly discuss the scope of activities and number of hours required. If you'd like to know more, or to express possible interest, please contact Dan Hill, the CUMS Orchestral Manager, or Simon Fairclough, CUMS Chairman.

Launch of the CUMS Supporters' Circle

Fri 1st February 2008

The CUMS Supporters' Circle - a new group for friends who value the Society's work and wish to contribute towards its future - was launched at a landmark performance of Verdi's Requiem by CUMS I and six Cambridge college choirs on 19 January 2008. Click here to find out about the Circle.

Conducting Competition 2007-8

Sat 1st December 2007

Conductors are invited to apply for one of the CUMS conducting positions for 2008-9. Deadline for application: Sunday 27th January 2008.

Concerto Competition 2007-8

Sat 1st December 2007

CUMS invites instrumentalists who will be in statu pupillari during the academic year 2008-9 to audition for a chance to play a concerto with one of the orchestras. Deadline for application: Sunday 27th January 2008.

Retirement of Stephen Cleobury as conductor of CUMS

Mon 18th June 2007

Announcement from CUMS Chairman, Simon Fairclough

At its meeting on 18th June, the CUMS Committee voted unanimously to extend Stephen Cleobury's current term of office by seven months from November 2008 to June 2009, so as to enable him to oversee The Society's contributions to the University's 800th anniversary celebrations in the 2008-09 academic year.

Stephen has informed the Committee that he will not be seeking re-election to his current post beyond that time.

Stephen's contribution to the CUMS and Cambridge music since 1982 has been truly incalculable, and his leadership will be sorely missed. The Society will have many opportunities to express its gratitude to him over the next two seasons, and it is hoped that Stephen will be able to play a continuing role in the life of The Society beyond his retirement as Conductor.

There are times in the history of any organisation when it becomes important to give thought to what the future should hold. By 2009, Stephen will have been CUMS Conductor for 27 years, and his decision to step down provides an important opportunity to consider some fundamental issues relating to the future development of The Society.

Over the coming months, the Committee will be actively soliciting the views of interested parties - CUMS members, Cambridge musicians and the University community more broadly - in order to draw up a vision for the future. In the first instance, those interested in contributing to this process are invited to contact the Chairman, Simon Fairclough, or Vice Chairman, Jo Whitehead.

Simon Fairclough
Chairman, Cambridge University Musical Society
18th June 2007

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